Crate.



E. F. 'RIBBEGK CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 21, 1909.

Patented June 7,1910.

-z SHEETS-SHEET 1,

nuvmboz @0in/wow@ v NDEW B- GRAHM Cm WDTVAUTHOGRPM WASNXNGTON. D. C.

E. F. RIBBEGK.

GRATB.

APPLICATION :FILED JUNE 21, 1909.

Patented June 7, i910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANDREW BV GRAHAM e0, MOYLITNMPNEIK WLDINGTNI. D. u

EMILE F. RIBBECK, 0F NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA.

CRATE. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led .Tune 21, 1909.

Patented June *7, 1910.

Serial No. 503,466.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE F. Rincx, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing at New Iberia, in the parish of Iberia and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in crates, and particularly to swinging crates for supporting fragile articles in such a manner as to prevent the upsetting thereof.

The obect in view is the arrangement of a housing adapted to rest upon any kind of surface and a swinging support for containing merchandise positioned in the housing and arranged to remain in a substantially horizontal plane regardless of the position of the housing.

Another object of the invention is the arrangement of a crate' having a frame work, either rectangular or circular, with cross pieces upon which is pivotally mounted an auxiliary housing into which is designed to be positioned merchandise of any desired kind, as for. instance eggs or other merchandise that is easily broken, the swinging arrangement of the secondary housing permitting the eggs or other merchandise to remain correctly in a horizontal position regardless of the position of the outer housing or casing.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a slightly modied form of the invention. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a secondary housing and support therefor. Fig. 4 is a lon 'tudinal vertical section through the crate s own in Fig. 1 embodying the invention. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a housing rectangular in formation provided with end cross braces 2 and 3 into which is positioned the ends of rod 4. Rod 4 is designed to support a pair of hooks or links 5 and 6 which also are adapted to engage rods 7 and 8 positioned in turnedover portions 9 and 10 of sides 11 and 12. Sides 11 and 12 are made preferably from sheet metal and have the turned-over portions 9 and 10 for accommodating rods 7 and 8 whereby the same are firmly braced, and suitable means are provided for links 5 and 6 to engage. .The turned-over portions 9 and 10 are cut away centrally thereof for accommodating links 5 and 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The side plates 11 and 12 are connected by a plurality of braces 13 spaced any desired distance apart. rlhe side plates 1l and 12 are also braced by having rods 14 and 15 arranged at the ends of rods 7 and 8. Rods 14 and 15 if desired may be a continuation of either of rods 7 or 8.

Pivotally secured to rod 4 are lids 16 and 17 for protecting any merchandise that may be placed within the secondary housing formed by sides 11 and 12 and cross brace 13. By pivotally mounting lids 16 and 17 on rod 4 the lids are spaced somewhat above the top edge of side plates 11 and 12, and a free circulation of air is therefore provided.

In Figs. 2 and 5 a slightly modiiied form of the invention is disclosed in which a housing 1 is provided tubular in construction.

` Housing 1 is braced by cross braces 2 and 3. Positioned in cross braces 2 and 3 is the rod 4 upon which is pivotally mounted an auxiliary housing 18 constructed similar to the housing shown in Fig. 3 except that it is rectangular. Housing 18 is provided with lids 16 and 17 in a similar manner to lids 16 and 17. The main difference between the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and the preferred structure is the construction of the outer casing for housing 1 which is tubular, and the construction of the auxiliary housing 18 which is rectangular.

By constructing crates having an outer housing or frame and a swinging or pivotally mounted inner housing for supporting merchandise means are presented which will prevent the easy spilling of merchandise and the crushing or bruising of certain kinds of merchandise, as for instance eggs, berries and the like. By thus providinga swinging auxiliary support the outer frame or casing may be positioned on any kind of surface and at any angle without in the least endangering the contents of the inner housing, provided the outer casing is not set upon v end, which inordinary handling would not be done as the onter easing is open for free inspection.

What I claim is 5 In a crate, an outer easing, a rod snpported Centrally of said outer easing, an inner casing formed of side members, and a plurality of connecting strips, a pivotally mounted link secured to each of said side 10 members and pivotally engaging said shaft,

` whereby said inner casing is pivotally supported insaid outer casing, and a plurality of pivot-ally mounted membersY connected to said shaft for forming a lid for said inner easing. 15

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

EMILE F. RIBBECK.

I/Vitnesses C. M. COMPTON, ADRIM GONTOULIN. 

